Kids Movies of the 1960s

The following list of 1960s Kids Movies are some of the most popular and memorable children’s movies of the decade and make a perfect movie library for your kids this Summer!

Music really made it’s mark in the 1960s with some huge names that are still popular today: Elvis, Bee Gees, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Beach Boys, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and The Who. The Sixties had Woodstock and saw the beginning of MoTown Records.

However, Music wasn’t the only thing that took off and became more mainstream… movies! Oh the Movies! How about The Dirty Dozen, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Midnight Cowboy, The Pink Panther, Planet of the Apes, and Night of the Living Dead!? These 1960s Kids Movies would make great movies for you adults to add to your library, but what about good, clean, family friendly movie night fun?

1960s Kids Movies:

When I think of the Sixties, I think of JFK, Hippies, Vietnam, The Moon Landing, Martin Luther King, Jr, and The Beatles in addition to everything above. What comes to mind for you?

1960 – Pollyanna – Optimism shines in this classic 1960 Disney film starring Hayley Mills. When the newly orphaned Pollyanna comes to live with her wealthy aunt in Harrington Town, life looks promising. Despite her aunt’s insistence on propriety and modesty, Pollyanna’s cheerful, optimistic ways spread throughout the town–converting even a cantankerous recluse and a whining hypochondriac. Only Aunt Polly has trouble welcoming her young niece into her heart. In a clash between the townspeople and Aunt Polly over local politics, it’s Pollyanna’s influence that helps individual townspeople find the inner strength to stand up for their own beliefs. When Pollyanna is involved in a serious accident, Aunt Polly finally realizes how much she loves her niece. Can Aunt Polly and the entire town somehow restore Polly’s optimism and ensure a full recovery? This is probably one of my favorite 1960s Kids Moviesof all time. I read the book when I was little, but didn’t watch the family movie until much later.

1960 – Swiss Family Robinson – One of Disney’s biggest and most fondly remembered hits, the spectacular screen version of the literary classic SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is full of breathtaking South Seas scenery, hundreds of exotic animals, and treacherous pirates. This heroic tale chronicles the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they skillfully overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a “civilized” community. But the ultimate challenge lies ahead when a band of cutthroat pirates threaten to destroy the Robinson’s Makeshift paradise. Capture the thrills, romance, and fun of this unforgettable Disney film!

1961 – 101 Dalmatians – Pongo, Perdita and their super-adorable puppies are in for thrills, hilarious spills and an epic action-packed adventure when they face off with Cruella De Vil, Disney’s most fabulously outrageous villainess. Unleash all the excitement and suspense of Disney’s 101 DALMATIANS, beloved 1960s Kids Movies you’ll want to share with your family again and again!

1961 – The Parent Trap – THE PARENT TRAP: Hayley Mills, Special Academy Award(R) winner for 1960’s POLLYANNA, lights up the screen in Disney’s fondly remembered release of THE PARENT TRAP. Mills stars as Susan and Sharon, identical twins separated at birth. Neither twin knows the other exists until a simple twist of fate finds them at the same summer camp. Then, realizing who they are, they plan a little twist of their own. They switch places with high hopes of getting their parents back together. This delightful and heartwarming comedy will have your whole family doubling up with laughter. Also includes The Parent Trap II

1963 – Flipper – Grab your snorkel and join the fun! The original family movie that spawned the highly successful TV series and several sequels stars Chuck Connors as a fisherman.

1964 – Mary Poppins – “Practically Perfect In Every Way” Mary Poppins flies out of the windy London skies and into the home of two mischievous children. With the help of a carefree chimney sweep named Bert (Dick Van Dyke), the spirited nanny turns every chore into a game and every day into a “Jolly Holiday.” Share the music, share the magic, share the joy of Mary Poppins with a whole new generation on Disney DVD.

1965 – The Sound of Music – When you read the description of this movie, it is a wonder it ever got as big as it is! “A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower.”

1967 – Doctor Dolittle – Get ready for the wildest adventure of a lifetime in the most ambitious musical production ever brought to 1960s Kids Movies. Earning a 1967 Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, this dazzling fantasy turns both ordinary and exotic animals into talking, dancing and singing sensations! Rex Harrison is unforgettable in this inspiring adaptation of Hugh Lofting’s classic stories. Step into the English country home of the good doctor as he performs remarkable treatments on the wildest variety of patients you could imagine. Discover his secret cures and watch with wide-eyed excitement as he and his four-legged, fine-feathered friends charm their way into your heart!

1967 – The Jungle Book – Meet the most unforgettable characters and embark on a thrilling adventure with Mowgli as he journeys deep into the jungle and learns “The Bare Necessities” of life from happy-go-lucky Baloo the bear.

Meet Bagheera, the wise old panther, and crazy King Louie the orangutan. But watch out for cunning Shere Khan the tiger and Kaa, the ssssneakiest snake in the jungle! Bursting with wild fun, toe-tapping music and beloved characters, this timeless masterpiece celebrates the true meaning of friendship. Experience all the excitement of Disney’s jumpin’ Jungle Classic and share the wonder with someone you love.

1968 – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls start your engines. You’re about to take an incredible ride with one of the most wonderful family films of all time! Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has never looked or sounded better. Dick Van Dyke stars as eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, who creates an extraordinary car called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It not only drives but also flies and floats as it leads him, his two children and his beautiful lady friend, Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), into a magical world of pirates, castles and endless adventure.

1968 – Heidi – Shirley Temple in a role that seems custom-made for her, portrays the spirited young heroine of the popular children’s novel, giving her a rich emotional depth and infinite charm. When her aunt tires of caring for her, orphan Heidi is taken into the Swiss mountains to live with her gruff grandfather (Jean Hersholt), a hermit who comes to adore her. But the aunt returns to steal Heidi away, selling her to a family whose invalid daughter (Marcia Mae Jones) needs a companion. Bullied by an evil governess (Mary Nash), Heidi still charms the entire household and never stops trying to return to her beloved grandfather.

1969 – A Boy Named Charlie Brown – Join Charlie Brown and the rest of the delightful “Peanuts” gang in their smashing debut on the silver screen in the late Charles M. Schulz’s first full-length animated motion picture. It’s a movie filled with all the characters and charm that has made “Peanuts” the most popular comic strip in the world. And it is musical entertainment that will positively make you grin from ear to ear. Our story begins with Charlie Brown gearing up for his first pitch of the baseball season – stopping midstream because his pitcher’s mound is filled with dandelions. It’s one enchanting scene after another in this very special movie that brings all our “Peanuts” characters to fun-loving life. With excitement added by Vince Gauraldi’s jazz music and songs by Rod McKuen, A Boy Named Charlie Brown is a motion picture Gene Shalit said is “so cheerful I can hardly wait for the next one!”

I hope you and your family have fun watching these movie classics and adding them to your movie library and be sure to check out some of my blogger friends’ lists of…

Summer Movies for Kids:

About Kelli Miller

My husband (Ricky) of 20 years, our three wild and wonderfully different boys, five totally spoiled little dogs, a plethora of wild cats, and I live at Miller Manor! It is a 100 year old Colonial Style Farmhouse that is surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland, in a small town on the coast of Southern Alabama.

Great list! I love sharing movies that I saw as a child with my kids. Mary Poppins is a favorite in our family, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is hilarious! Another from the 1960s that is one of my son’s favorites is That Darn Cat–my parents taped it off TV in 1990, and the VHS tape is still good, with the extra bonus of hilarious antique commercials.